The Petulant Child (er Dog)

Finn with Shoe

I am not sure whether it is an excessive amount of energy, but the new puppy, Finnegan, who is not new anymore, had a rough ending to the night. 

That meant sleep ended at 4AM because we confined him to his cage and he cried for 45 minutes. Ugh.

Finn with Shoe Part 2 

It is hard to sleep with a petulant dog howling, barking, racing around and generally being a problem child.

It is part of the "growing" pains, but it surely is a pain.

Right now he is busy eating a shoe. It is not my shoe. At least he is quiet. Given that he is not creating a nuisance by barking or harassing Makayla, I am going to let him enjoy Chris' shoe. 

Tomorrow will be better!

Promise?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Winter Around the Corner

As autumn slides into winter, I found an unsettling prediction in this morning's The Washington Post. 

Washington, DC, Regional Snow Forecast

The winter snow forecast is in. The coming winter is predicted to be more normal--which means a lot more snow than last year's mild winter. I added a star to the map to indicate the approximate area where I am located in relation to the rest of the region.

Snow, or the threat of snow, tends to shut down the entire region. It is a a bit comical, coming as I do from a place where snow is just one of the seasons and they are equipped to deal with it. Here are the seasons in Upstate NY: Snow, Spring, Rain, Harvest.
I do write that a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it is not far from the truth.

Well, since the forecast is in I need to be ready for the coming season. I wonder how much snow we will actually receive. At least the season is beginning mildly. Temperatures today are expected to be in the 60's. 

I wish I could play hooky and go golfing.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Welcome to the Land of Insults

Yesterday was a banner day for the United States--and not in a good way.

The President began the day by obliterating the First Amendment in his personal and unreasonable attacks  on CNN and ended the day by insulting native Americans and using a racial slur while denigrating a member of Congress.

It is almost scary to consider what "off-the-cuff" utterance will be next. 

Regarding the news media, President Trump tweeted the following:

We should have a contest as to which of the Networks, plus CNN and not including Fox, is the most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in its political coverage of your favorite President (me). They are all bad. Winner to receive the FAKE NEWS TROPHY!

President Trump at Code Talker Ceremony
Image by Getty images 

It is OK to have a favorite network, but any effort to interfere with the freedom of the press is specifically against the First Amendment to the Constitution. 

And then later in the day, according to NPR, at a ceremony honoring surviving Navajo WW2 code talkers, the President destroyed the solemnity of the ceremony by making insults and using what is considered a racial slur against a U.S. Senator. What possessed him to tangentially add such comments into the ceremony?

Where does it stop? When will ethics and decorum be restored to the highest office in the land? When again will we have a leader that we can be proud of and rally behind rather than shudder every time he opens his mouth or makes another tweet?

Perhaps Lord Action was correct:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

In this case, I might substitute the word money for power.

--Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - November 27, 2017

Before the Christmas Decorations

1. The last Monday in November has arrived. The Christmas shopping season is in full swing.

2. The best way to avoid the holiday traffic is not to drive anywhere in the Sunday after Thanksgiving!

After the Christmas Decorations 

3. Winners and Losers: Winners: Steelers, Redskins, Penguins. Losers: Cowboys. DNP (yet) Ravens.

4. When the leftovers are gone, we can make soup.

5. Christmas is arriving in the house. Did I mention that the tree has changing lights on it? White or multi-color or alternating! I should have started a fire in the fireplace for additional ambiance. 

After Christmas Decorations Part 2

6. If you survived Black Friday with your wallet in tact, congratulations. According to one source, the term originated about 1952 to describe the shopping frenzy on the day after Thanksgiving. 

7. December dawns on Friday, and with it the final month of 2017. There is just enough time to make good on all of those unkept New Year's resolutions.

8. My 2018 New Year's resolution list:
    a. I resolve to make no New Year's resolutions
    b. If I start to make a resolution, see the previous resolution.
    c. If I resolve to make no resolutions, have I then made a resolution? 

Headlines

The jihadist plan to use women to launch the next incarnation of ISIS - The Washington Post

Congress Returns to Intense Pressure to End Secrecy Over Sex Harassment - The New York Times

Iran in Europe MISSILE threat warning of WW3 rocket attack - The Daily Star

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"I'm talking about principles that begin with the sacred worth of human life; the cherished place of the family; the responsibility of parents and schools to be teachers of truth, tolerance, hard work, cooperation, and love; and the role of our major institutions -- government, industry, and labor -- to provide the opportunities and security -- opportunities and security free people need to build and leave behind a better world for their children and their children's children." Address Before the Japanese Diet in Tokyo, November 11, 1983

- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Trip Home

It is the trip home that signals the end of a vacation or time away.

Mom and Dad with E and Jax
Nicole's photo

Often the trip home is the hardest because I know that at the end of it, the daily routine will kick in again.

Yesterday, I took Mom and Dad halfway home. I was met at that point by my brother Tim who helped them to complete the journey back to their house in the frozen hinterland that is often referred to as Upstate New York.

The Family at Thanksgiving

It was sad to see them leave after such a short visit, but it was the quality of the visit which was the most important aspect. 

It was great to have them join us for Thanksgiving, but their departure signaled the return to the daily routine.

Even though the trip home signaled the end of one holiday, there are more holidays ahead and more opportunities to get together and celebrate.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Black Friday 2017

The craziest shopping day of the year is over!

Setting the Game Board
Axis and Allies 2017

I can state, emphatically, that I did not leave the comfort of my house to brave the crowds and chaos. 

Why?

Black Friday is Axis and Allies day for the men of the family. It is a Black Friday tradition that we gather around a table for 8 hours or more and recreate World War II. Although we have played the WWI version of the game.

Axis and Allies in Progress

Yesterday, the Axis defeated the Allies after routing the Russian forces defending Moscow while the Japanese were running roughshod through Asia although the Americans had soundly defeated their Navy during the Battle of Tokyo Bay. 

While the world was a war, I am told, by the family members that went shopping, that the crowds were ferocious. It seems that retailers of brick and mortar stores have not figured out yet that they are driving people online if the shopping experience is not a pleasant one. For instance, waiting in line to check out for over 30 minutes is not a good plan.

I'm glad that I was safe and warm at home while losing the world to the bad guys.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

In the Rearview

Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror.

Thanksgiving Day 2017
Elkridge, MD

The football games are over and today is the day of leftovers as we struggle to eat everything that was not consumed yesterday. The turkey carcass is safely in the refrigerator waiting to be made into sandwiches and then into soup.

But it was a grand day. 

When the Reflection in the Spoon Reminds
me of Somewhere Else

Santa arrived at the end of the Macy's parade. I remember as a kid that was a significant moment. It meant that the Christmas season was upon us with all of its magic. 

The weather yesterday was fabulous. The sky was clear blue and the remaining leaves on the trees provided a beautiful mixture of color and contrast before the season fully passes into the grays of winter. 

In an trivial interesting thought, as I was about to pick up my spoon during the meal yesterday, the reflection of the fan in the metal made me think of being somewhere else, like on a beach. I though, just for a moment, that I saw a starfish, rather than the blades of the fan above me.

But no, I was still in Maryland enjoying dinner with my family--four generations of family. 

Family, after all, is where it is at. Here's hoping that you had a great Thanksgiving and that you survive Black Friday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Happy Thanksgiving - 2017

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

I hope that you are well, no matter where you are reading this and whether you celebrate the holiday or not.

It is always good to pause and give thanks for the blessings that we have received. 

I am blessed this year to have my parents here to celebrate the holiday with us. I rescued them from the winter wonderland that became Central New York yesterday and brought them a bit south to enjoy blue skies and 50 degree temperatures. 

Today will be filled with parades, football, food, but most importantly joy and interaction with family. 

If you are interested in a bit of history, The New York Times published an article two days ago describing how Most Everything You Learned About Thanksgiving is Wrong. 

Sometimes I just don't want the myth busted, however. 

Enjoy the day and may your blessings overflow.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pre-Holiday Activity

My Turkey Revving up for the Holiday!

Did you ever notice how much activity has to happen before a holiday to make the day special?

This year, I am happy to have my parents present for Thanksgiving. I completed the round-trip to Ithaca to retrieve them just before noon. 

While driving back today I experienced my first snowfall of the season. Ugh! It was already snowing in Central New York.

I am glad to be back in Maryland where the temperatures are in the 50's and the sun is shining.

Looking forward to Turkey Day.

Remember--eat a turkey, don't be one!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Worship the Fire

Riordin, the Fire Loving Cat

Riordin is a great cat. He is unusually loving and attentive. He also has some very unique personality traits. 

Riordin on the Chair

Last evening I built a fire to warm the room and while Chris and I were enjoying dinner, Riordin found a new way to enjoy the fire. Yes, he was hanging over the arm of my chair soaking up the heat from the fire. 

I have not seen him do this before and I found it amusing. He was quite content and didn't even move when he saw me coming in for a picture. 

I finally had to disturb him to sit down in my chair and resume the evening.

What an awesome cat!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD